A woman wanted by Scranton police for assaulting her ex-boyfriend with a baseball bat while robbing his apartment — all on the day they broke up — is in custody.

Rio Marie Lisi, 25, 8 Law St., Pittston, was held in Lackawanna County Prison on $100,000 bail Thursday after her apprehension by U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.

City police accuse Lisi of hitting David Potter three times across the legs with a baseball bat during the robbery at his West Market Street apartment on April 21.

She was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Sean McGraw on charges stemming from the April incident, along with more recent threat-related charges out of Carbondale.

Potter told police in an interview that he and Lisi, who was his live-in girlfriend, had an argument on the day of the incident when he broke up with her, according to the arrest affidavit. She left the apartment but returned later with a girlfriend and asked if she could retrieve some belongings.

Once inside, Lisi immediately went to his bedroom and grabbed his 9mm pistol before opening the back door and letting two men into the apartment, Potter told police. The men began beating him up before Lisi picked up the bat and struck his legs.

The group fled with the handgun, a television, a laptop computer and a cellphone, Potter said, according to police.

An officer who responded to the apartment later contacted Lisi by phone, but she refused to cooperate, telling the officer she was leaving the country and ultimately hanging up, the affidavit said.

The Carbondale charges arose from a voicemail Lisi left for her father, Joseph Lisi, on Nov. 6, in which she said he and his wife were going to die, along with a text message conversation between Rio Lisi and another relative that also contained threats against Joseph Lisi, Carbondale police said.

McGraw ordered Rio Lisi held on $75,000 bail on the April offenses and set her bail at $25,000 on the newer charges.

She faces a preliminary hearing 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132

The U.S. Supreme Court should deny Eric Matthew Frein’s request to hear his appeal of his death sentence for the 2014 sniper attack that killed one state trooper and injured another, Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin says in court papers.

In a 20-page legal brief, Tonkin argues the nation’s highest court does not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal. Even if the court finds it does, it should deny the petition because evidence clearly shows Frein’s constitutional rights were not violated.

Frein, 36, of Canadensis, Monroe County, was convicted in April 2017, of first-degree murder and other charges and sentenced to death for fatally shooting Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, of Dunmore, and severely wounding Trooper Alex T. Douglass, of Olyphant, outside the Blooming Grove State Police barracks in Pike County on Sept. 12, 2014. The state Supreme Court upheld Frein’s conviction and death sentence.

Frein’s attorney, Michael Wiseman,recently filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, arguing the trial judge allowed too much emotional testimony in the death penalty phase, which unduly influenced the jury. He also argued Frein’s rights also were violated when police refused to notify him an attorney arrived at the barracks while he was being first questioned.

In a reply filed this week, Tonkin contends the section of the law Wiseman cites as legal authority to bring the case before the court does not apply, therefore it should dismiss the appeal outright.

If the court reviews the merits of the case, Tonkin said testimony in the penalty phase did not violate Frein’s rights because it was within parameters the U.S. Supreme Court set in prior cases dealing with the same issue.

Tonkin said the testimony regarding Dickson related to “who he was as a human being, a husband, father, son, and as a member of the Pennsylvania State Police.”

“This is exactly the type of evidence permitted by this court,” Tonkin said.

As for Frein’s right to counsel, Tonkin cites another U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said a defendant subject to interrogation before charges are filed does not have to be informed that a family member retained an attorney on their behalf.

The Supreme Court takes only a fraction of the cases brought before it each year. The justices will review the filings and issue a ruling at a later date on whether to accept the case.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter.

PITTSTON TWP. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport travelers can soon use a mobile app to track and book flights and check parking availability.

The FlyAVP app — named partly after the airport’s three-letter federal designation — automatically will pull information from the airport’s upgraded website, FlyAVP.com.

“If we change any information (on the website), any alert messages or anything like that, it will automatically transfer to the app,” said Brock Siegel, chief executive officer for Omnitized, the app’s Wilkes-Barre-based developer.

Siegel spoke at an airport board meeting Thursday.

The airport hired Omnitized for $30,954 to develop the app and the upgraded website, which went online Sept. 23, airport spokesman Eric McKitish said. Siegel hopes to have the app available by next week. Google Play and the App Store will have it available for download, McKitish said. Siegel said he’s also building a webpage for downloading.

An app allows continuous communications with users, Siegel said.

“We can send messages that show up on home screens of the smart device if there is an urgent weather alert for travelers, congestion on the highways ... parking lot capacities, (flight) delays, cancellations, etc,” Siegel said. “We can also ... promote the newest programs that we have to offer.”

The website’s key new feature shows the availability of parking in the garage and three lots, along with prices for both. With the airport’s increased usage, the garage sometimes fills up. The app will make that feature especially handy.

“We are really excited about that,” airport director Carl Beardsley Jr. said.

Siegel said he could not find airports in other small- to medium-sized markets that offer a mobile app.

“I think this is going to put us in a whole different league when it comes to standing out,” he said.

The website and app will also communicate directly with the airport’s loyalty customers. As of Oct. 31, 538 people signed up for the loyalty program, about three-quarters from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, according to a chart presented at the meeting.

In other business, the board:

■ Extended Beardsley’s current three-year contract until Jan. 1, 2022, and declared Thursday as Carl Beardsley Day in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Both honor and reward Beardsley’s airport leadership and two years as president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, which represents airports across the state. Beardsley, who started as director in January 2015 and whose salary is $125,640, is due at least 2% raises in 2020 and 2021, according to his contract. The airport broke a passenger departure record in 2017, came close in 2016 and 2018, and is on pace to set another record this year.

“He’s done a fabulous job,” said Patrick O’Malley, an airport board member and Lackawanna County commissioner.

■ Unveiled a plaque honoring Peter Payavis, the superintendent who died in August and worked for the airport for 41 years. Payavis’ wife, Joyce, and their daughter, Melissa, pulled away a “Terrible Towel,” waved by Pittsburgh Steelers fans like Payavis, to unveil the plaque.

Melissa Payavis teared up remembering her father, who loved talking about his job.

If they visited the Tipsy Turtle, a nearby restaurant, a lap around the airport inevitably followed, she said.

“It was always evident that he loved to come to the airport everyday,” Payavis said.

Most of the airport’s operations staff, who Payavis supervised, showed up for the unveiling.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.

A South Abington Twp. nursing home employee stole prescription painkillers intended for patients for her personal use and failed to maintain proper medication records, investigators said.

Jennifer Jane Sardo, 44, 321 Chestnut St., Peckville, formerly a licensed practical nurse at Abington Manor, was released on $30,000 unsecured bail Thursday after her arraignment by Magisterial District Judge Paul Keeler.

Sardo faces a felony count of acquisition of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, along with misdemeanor charges of theft by unlawful taking and failure to keep required records.

Her arrest followed a joint investigation by township police and the state attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation that began in September after Abington Manor traced irregularities in a patient’s narcotics log back to Sardo, the arrest affidavit said. She was fired at that time.

According to the affidavit:

In an interview with investigators Oct. 18 with her attorney present, Sardo admitted stealing prescription medication, primarily oxycodone and hydrocodone, that was meant for patients from June or July until September.

She said she could not recall how many prescription tablets she took or what patients she took them from but believed the total number was fewer than 100 pills. However, she specifically acknowledged taking 20 Percocet tablets that she signed out for a patient identified only by the initials B.O.

Sardo, who told investigators she suffers from frequent unmanaged migraines, said she did not use the medication while at work but waited until the end of her shift or until she arrived home.

Investigators said there were 290 separate instances involving the records of nine patients where Sardo failed to properly document the administration of a prescription medication.

In her interview, she denied that she took the prescription or that the patient went without medication on each of those occasions, telling investigators there were times she did not have time to make proper records.

Keeler scheduled Sardo’s preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. Dec. 5.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132

SCRANTON — The Scranton Sewer Authority will ask the state auditor general to review the $195 million sewer system sale to Pennsylvania American Water — a major development that some officials have supported since 2017.

The authority board voted 3-0, with member Keleena McNichols absent, to request Auditor General Eugene DePasquale review the 2016 sale agreement and several million in proceeds held in escrow for sewer-line easement acquisition. Board member Michael Dempsey, the authority’s lone Dunmore representative, tried twice in 2017 to convince his colleagues to request the review, but to no avail.

Thursday’s vote followed a chorus of pleas from residents and officials of Scranton and Dunmore who implored the authority to request the review. Dunmore Mayor Tim Burke, Scranton City Councilman Bill Gaughan and others emphasized the importance of transparency amid lingering questions about millions of dollars in legal fees surrounding the transaction and as millions more in easement-acquisition funds hang in the balance for both communities.

The auditor general’s office does not have the power to independently review a municipal authority, but can do so at the authority’s request.

Reached after tonight's meeting, DePasquale said his office awaits the formal request and called the review “something that we’ll take very seriously.”

DePasquale said in early 2018 that the Scranton Sewer Authority would be the first municipal authority in the state that he’d audit if given that power.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter

DICKSON CITY — A basement fire damaged a multi-family home on Bowman Street early Wednesday.

Borough firefighters who responded to 405-407 Bowman St. at 3:27 a.m. found flames with heavy smoke in the basement on the 407 side of the two-story, four-unit structure.

Crews brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, Fire Chief Matthew Horvath said. Fire damage was contained to the basement, although there was smoke damage throughout the building.

Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, including a 16-year-old boy who had minor burns to his hands, state police at Dunmore said.

The state police fire marshal investigated and ruled the fire accidental, saying the cause appeared to be an electrical issue with a space heater plugged into an extension cord.

The American Red Cross was assisting the residents, police said.

— STAFF REPORT

DICKSON CITY — The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties reached its 2019 campaign goal this afternoon with hours to spare.

By 7 p.m., local donors raised $3.2 million to help community members in need.

“Today was a good day,” said Gary Drapek, United Way president and CEO.

The organization celebrated another successful campaign at Genetti’s Manor in Dickson City Thursday. This year, a light-hearted video took guests aboard the starship from “Star Trek,” where campaign chairman and Wayne Bank President and CEO Lewis Critelli, captaining the U.S.S. Enterprise, and PNC Bank’s Debbie Kolsovsky, dressed as Mr. Spock, visited 1920 Scranton.

“All of you here tonight have opened your heart,” said Critelli, the first Wayne County chairman. “You lent your muscle and joined the fight for education, financial stability and health for everyone who calls Lackawanna and Wayne County home. Vital, life-sustaining services would be left undelivered if not for your commitment.”

The organization receives more requests from the community every year, said Critelli.

“That’s what the United Way is there for,” he said.

Critelli also noted that the local United Way received the highest four star honor from Charity Navigator for the eighth consecutive year.

To celebrate its 100th year, the organization’s annual campaign is going without a solo chairman next year, said Drapek. Instead, United Way is bringing back all of its living chairs from past campaigns to lead the 2020 fundraising efforts and will have Roaring ‘20s-themed events throughout the year.

“For an organization to be around for 99 years it has to be relevant, vibrant and needed,” Critelli said.

For more details, visit www.uwlc.net.

Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter

Fundraiser planned

To help fight Matt Burnett’s battle with the genetically transmitted disease, Huntington’s chorea, his friends are hosting a chicken/pasta ala vodka dinner on Saturday.

Burnett is an active volunteer fireman with the Columbia Hose Company 5 in Carbondale and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Trinity Club. He devotes countless hours of volunteer service to his community.

Both his mother and grandfather lost their fight with Huntington’s chorea. Burnett is manifesting the symptoms of this disease, which takes away a person’s functional abilities. There is no cure for the disease.

Dinners will be available for pickup between 1 and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Trinity Club, South Main Street, Carbondale. Tickets for the dinner are $12 each. Ticket sales and returns should be in by today. There will also be a basket raffle, 50/50 and other events.

High notes

Hospice of the Sacred Heart’s held its annual Prayer Breakfast and Blessing of Hands on Nov. 7 at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel in Scranton.

Prayers and reflections were offered by Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart; Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz, Temple Hesed, Scranton; Wayne Evans, mayor of Scranton; Dorothy MacGregor, MSW, Hospice of the Sacred Heart; Frank A. Bucci Jr., M.D., president and chairman of the board, Hospice of the Sacred Heart; and the Rev. Ryan P. Glenn, assistant pastor, St. John Neumann Parish, Scranton.

Honored speakers included Judge Andrew Jarbola, Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas; Joanne D. Arduino, artistic director, Ballet Theatre of Scranton; and Louis Pettinato.

The Hospice of the Sacred Heart Chairman’s Award was presented to Maurya Bergan, billing specialist; and special recognition was given to Marianne Yanik, RN.

Super students

Honesdale High School graduate Grey Rabbit Dion Puett spent a day as a student shadow of state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., at the state Capitol.

Puett, who graduated in 2018, attends Penn State University’s Harrisburg campus where he’s interested in political science and finance.

While in Harrisburg, he sat in on committee meetings, attended public rallies, watched and listened as Baker conducted legislative business and saw how the Senate operates.

The son of J. Morgan Puett and Mark Dion — owners of Mildred’s Lane, a 94-acre exhibition and workshop gallery near the Delaware River in Wayne County, Puett was introduced by Baker during floor remarks during session.

“This young man has received a quality education and has had some extraordinary experiences both inside and outside the classroom,” Baker noted.

BLAKELY

Two Peckville residents face charges after police received tips about suspected drug activity at their home.

Marcus Holiday Cicero, 22, and Naomi Christine Esteras , 21, both of 207 Meadow Lane, were charged Tuesday with possession with intent to deliver and related charges.

Witnesses told police people would throw money into an open window at the home and bags would be thrown out.

Police interviewed one witness who claimed he bought drugs at that home. After obtained a search warrant for the Meadow Lane house, police found 148 grams of marijuana, as well as scales, baggies and other paraphernalia.

Cicero remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail. Esteras was released on $20,000 unsecured bail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 5.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

Multiple reports of flames and heavy smoke at Keyser Avenue and Ferdinand Street brought Scranton fire crews to the scene of an intense fire late Thursday night.

Crews arriving at the scene reported hearing multiple explosions from inside the building, which they identified as a business and said was unoccupied. A reporter at the scene observed flames shooting from the roof of the structure, which appeared to be Brayer's Auto Service and Towing. North Keyser Avenue is shut down from the McDade Expressway ramps to RJ Walker.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

■ Jessica Rachel Travis and Darren Degilio, both of Old Forge.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Mark E. and Jennifer Vaughn, Newton Twp., to Edward E. Jr. and Christine M. Volovitch, Newton Twp.; a property at 13003 Silver Fox Lane, Newton Twp., for $330,000.

■ PUD Properties LLC, Dun­more, to Bradley Marx and Olivia Jackson, Scranton; two parcels in Dunmore for $105,000.

■ Timothy and Kathryn Brown­ell, Archbald, to Benjamin D. and Angeline Jones, Plains Twp.; a property at 209 Raymond Drive, Archbald, for $257,800.

■ Joseph H. Roginsky and Yvonne Slick to Kelly Ann and Ryan E. Williams; a property at 13 Riverview Drive, Jessup, for $320,000.

■ Paul J. Woodbridge Jr. and Jammie Bilinsky, Greenfield Twp., to Jeffrey J. and Jill A. Slomian, Waymart; a property at 143 Birkett St., Carbondale, for $95,400.

■ Fidelity Deposit and Dis­count Bank, Dunmore, to Chris­tys Realty Group Corp., Scran­ton; a property at 109 VanBrunt St., Moscow, for $139,000.

■ Jeffrey J. and Kimberly A. Krisiak, Lackawanna County, to Thomas J. Dolph III, Lacka­wan­na County; a property at 482 Salem St., Archbald, for $126,750.

■ Hawk Enterprise LLC, Clarks Green, to Jeffrey Baka, Clarks Summit; a property at 113 Fairview Ave., Clarks Summit, for $199,000.

■ BP&S Holding Co. Inc., Dallas, to Performance Building L.P., Moosic; four parcels in Moosic for $1,400,000.

■ Michael L. Bzdick to Benja­min Worlinsky; a property at 109 Jessup Ave., Jessup, for $94,000.

■ Thomas F. Walsh, Pennsyl­vania, to Ken C. Greenidge, Penn­­sylvania; a property at 308 Oak St., Scranton, for $143,650.

■ Timothy P. and Tracy Marcks, Scranton, to Kristen Hricenak and Maria Tomczyk, Scranton; a property at 208 Seymour Ave., Scranton, for $164,000.

■ Patrick and Mary Kathryn Cawley, Scranton, to Monica Scott, Rosedale, N.Y.; a property at 1136-1138 Rock St., Scran­ton, for $25,000.

■ Barbara A. Zumbo to Fred­rick Tomlinson; two parcels in Scranton for $71,000.

■ Lawrence J. McAndrew, Scran­ton, to 539 Hemlock Street LLC, South Abington Twp.; a property at 539 Hem­lock St., Scranton, for $61,000.
■ David Wasko, executor of the estate of Joseph M. Rogan, Scranton, to Daniel Paul Cor­coran, Scranton; a property at 194 W. Parker St., Scranton, for $52,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Ashley O’Connell, Scranton, v. Collin O’Connnell, Scranton; married May 3 in Scranton; pro se.

■ Ronald Mascaritola, Dick­son City, v. Sandra Mascaritola, Dickson City; married May 17, 1997, Woodbridge, N.J.; Oliver, Price & Rhodes, attorneys.

■ Laureen Pidgeon, Jermyn, v. Paul D. Pidgeon, Jermyn; married Sept. 10, 1994, in Concord, Mass.; Hughes, Nicholls & O’Hara, attorneys.

ESTATES FILED

■ Joseph N. Orlowsky, 1021 Cedar Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Diana Senkev­itch, also known as Diane Sen­kevitch, 191 Main St.-Jutland, Hampton, N.J.

■ Joseph Toth, 419 Academy St., Peckville, letters testamentary to Susan Kerecman, 1217 Pettit St., Dickson City.

■ Victor Ocetnik, 1101 Vine St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Donna Mela, 4635 Dawn Acres Drive, Madison Twp.

■ Patricia Ann Zur, also known as Patricia A. Zur, 18 Midland St., Simpson, letters of administration to Mary A. Lewis, same address.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Nov. 21, 1969

Ribbon-cutting held for bridge, interstate

Two local highway projects were formally dedicated by state Highway Secretary Robert Bartlett. The projects were the Spruce Street Bridge Complex in Scranton and the completion of a new section of Interstate 81 East.

In Scranton, Bartlett along with Mayor James Walsh cut the ribbon on the $5.5M bridge complex that connects South and Central Scranton.

The dignitaries then traveled a short distance outside the city to mark the completion of an 8-mile stretch of Interstate 81 East (renamed I-380 in 1973) between Gouldsboro and Daleville. This time, instead of using a pair of ceremonial scissors, Bartlett drove a tractor-trailer through the ribbon.

When completed, motorists will be able to use highway to connect with Interstate 80 in Monroe County.

Planned amusement park opposed

Several residents of East Scranton attended the Scranton Board of Zoning Appeals to oppose the proposed amusement park in their neighborhood.

Leroy and Lucille Demuth of Stafford Avenue had submitted a request to the board to place amusement park rides, such as a merry-go-round and go-karts, on property that they owned near Nay Aug Park.

A neighborhood spokesperson, attorney Emanuel Laster, told the board he and a group of 21 area residents oppose the installation of the rides because of the “undue noise in the summer” and the possibility of property depreciation.

The Demuth request was sent to the city planning commission for review.

Out & about

At the movies: “Alice’s Restaurant” at the West Side, “Easy Rider” at the Comerford, “The Christmas Tree” at the Strand, “Krakatoa East of Java” at Cinema North, and “The Cobra,” “Psycho Circus” and “Island of Terror” at the Circle Drive-In.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.

Carbondale

Garbage collection: Garbage collection for the city of Carbon­dale will be suspended for Nov. 28, due to the Thanks­giving holiday. The Thursday route will be collected Nov. 29.

Hamlin

Cookie event: St. John’s Episco­pal Church annual Cookies Galore event, Dec. 14, 9-11 a.m., Route 191 S. (next to Jack Williams Tire), more than 50 varieties of homemade cookies, $8/small container or $15/large container (containers provided; Welsh cookies, $6/dozen, pre-orders only by Dec. 9; Sandy Toy, 570-689-2441, by Dec. 9.

Lackawanna County

Santa trolley: Electric City Trolley Museum is opening the Santa on the Trolley excursions with Elf on a Shelf on five trolley excursions along with sing-a-longs and storytelling on Nov. 30, 300 Cliff St., Scranton, trolley excursion times are 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., museum activites include arts and crafts, balloon art and face painting 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., regular rates apply, reservations are encouraged to assure the ride time preferred.

Peckville

Free lunch: Free community lunch at the Red Door Cafe at Peckville United Methodist Church, Saturday, noon, 732 Main St.

Hoagie sale: Hoagie sale for missions, Dec. 7, 9-10 a.m., Peckville United Methodist Church, 732 Main St., $5 each; Bonny, 570-489-6093, or Paul, 570-489-8042 by Nov. 30.

West Scranton

Cookie sale: SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church 10th annual cookie sale, Dec. 15 and 22, noon-2 p.m., 1720 Academy St., $8/pound, pre-packaged, come early for best selection; rectory, 570-343-8128, or center, 570-961-3147 (days of sale); special orders, 570-842-6476; www.saintspeterandpaulscranton.com.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

rock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

DICKSON CITY — A basement fire damaged a multi-family home on Bowman Street early Wednesday.

Borough firefighters who responded to 405-407 Bowman St. at 3:27 a.m. found flames with heavy smoke in the basement on the 407 side of the two-story, four-unit structure.

Crews brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, Fire Chief Matthew Horvath said. Fire damage was contained to the basement, although there was smoke damage throughout the building.

Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, including a 16-year-old boy who had minor burns to his hands, state police at Dunmore said.

The state police fire marshal investigated and ruled the fire accidental, saying the cause appeared to be an electrical issue with a space heater plugged into an extension cord.

The American Red Cross was assisting the residents, police said.

— STAFF REPORT

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Carlos Ruben Mojica-Gomez and Sherly Gaston-Bonilla, both of Scranton.

■ Kenneth James Lucke Jr. and Sandra Amarilis Casteleiro, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Toral and Priya Patel to Lucky 8’s LLC; a property at 1420-1422 Gibson St., Scranton, for $126,000.

■ John and Linda Cerra, Fell Twp., to Michael Appleton and Lidia Navines, Miami, Fla.; a property at 1221 Crystal Lake Road, Fell Twp., for $750,000.

■ Colleen McEntee, designated signer and authorized delegate for the secretary of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Philadelphia, to Robert J. Jr. and Robert M. Jones, Lackawanna County; a property at 1741 Forest Acres Drive, Newton Twp., for $112,500.

■ Michael J. Stumpf, Colts Neck, N.J., to Jose Gonzalez and Candice Horan, New York, N.Y.; a property at 7 Ridge Court, Clifton Twp., for $75,000.

■ Rocco Baldassari and Erin Timlin, Scranton, to Anthony R. and Elizabeth S. Scaccia; a parcel in Spring Brook Twp., for $60,000.

■ Barbara G. Chalk to Joseph Jules Mazzawi; a property at 70 Skyline Drive, Covington Twp., for $208,820.

■ Alyse M. Pevec, now by marriage Alyse M. Von Ahnen, and Mark Von Ahnen, Carbondale, to Dylan T. Ruffner, Jessup; a property at 1 Franklin St., Carbondale, for $84,000.

■ Jean S. Murrin, Scranton, to Jeffrey and Wendy Koze, Hellertown; a property at 517 Second St., Dunmore, for $70,000.

■ Meya Development Co., Yatesville, to Jenstar of Scranton II LLC, Allentown; a parcel in Jessup, for $371,000.

■ Margaret L. and Carl Frederick, Nutley, N.J., to Susan Mary and Palmer Christopher Battalino, Clermont, Fla.; a property at 80 Mountain Glen Drive, Clifton Twp., for $50,000.

■ Timothy J. and Judith Rozelle, Clarks Summit, to Johnathon J. and Hannah E. Bartling, Factoryville; a property at 411 Melrose Ave., Clarks Summit, for $146,000.

DIVORCE DECREES

■ Denise Smith v. Lawrence Smith

■ Alyssa Heitzenroder v. William Heitzenroder

■ John Blaine v. Kris Blaine

■ Elis Varela v. Victor Sanches

■ Autumn Stepanski v. John Pronko III

■ Rachael Dowling v. Erick Dowling

■ Erin Krzywicki v. John Krzywicki

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Thomas Munley has issued the following bench warrants for failure to appear on fines and costs:

■ Christopher Rosa, 148 S. Van Buren Ave., Scranton; $717.19.

■ Robert Rutsky, 121 R. Main St., Archbald; $3,101.75.

■ Edward Smith, 714 N. Main Ave., second floor, Scranton; $1,788.

■ Randy Edward Seifert, 82 W. Main St., Glen Lyon; $9,161.80.

■ Taylor Seeds, 1206 W. Mill Road, Northfield, N.J.; $747.25.

■ Alan W. Randall, 6 Ross St., Ashley; $2,597.

■ Miguel Rodriguez, 1024 Capouse Ave., Scranton; $1,619.50.

■ Terry Kay Louise Plonski, 307 Wayne St., Archbald; $848.50.

■ Jonathan Vargas, 809 N. Fifth St., second floor, Reading; $4,342.66.

■ Raymond G. Unangst, 600 Wyoming Ave., Scranton; $11,215.34.

■ Robert Thiel, 1577 Hopfer Road, Hop Bottom; $2,231.

■ Dampsey Shalek Stuckey, 525 N. Main Ave., second floor, Scranton; $5,026.25.

■ Maryann Solomon, 1618 Summit Lake Road, Clarks Summit; $2,497.

■ Lacey J. Smith, 1412 Pine St., Scranton; $1,117.

■ Maquentia C. Smith, 1209 Jackson St., Scranton; $1,051.

■ Eric Marcel Smith, 1218 Rock St., Scranton; $2,661.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Evelyn Santiago, Scranton, v. Luis Antonio Santiago, Unadilla, Ga.; married Dec. 4, 1979, in New York; Anne Marie Howells, attorney.

■ Hailee White, Greentown, v. Sabrina Boyd, Hawley; married May 11, 2018, in Scranton; pro se.

ESTATES FILED

■ Margaret E. Gatti, 301 Luzerne St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Leslie C. Drouse, 1528 Plane St., Avoca.

■ Harriett S. Magnot, also known as Harriett Sue Magnot, 15 Webster Drive, Dunmore, letters testamentary to Wayne Magnot, 616 Timber Lane, Clarks Summit, and Gloria S. Summa, 415 Foote St., Dunmore.

LAWSUITS

■ Susan and Curtis Bass, 125 Carson Drive, Greeley, v. Danielle Hafner, 2502 Pittston Ave., Scranton, seeking not in excess of $50,000, for injuries suffered Aug. 18, 2018, in an automobile accident at Birney Avenue and Hollenback Street, Moosic; Joseph P. Guzzardo, attorney.

■ Jaden and Jade Volchoff, 923 N. Irving Ave., Scranton, v. Alexan Flores-Feliciano, 105 N. Fulton St., Wilkes-Barre, and A Stout Enterprises LLC, 597 Summerhill Road, Berwick, seeking in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs and damages, for injuries sustained Nov. 27, 2018, in an automobile accident at State Street, Clarks Summit; Edwin A. Abrahamsen Jr., attorney.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

WILKES-BARRE TWP.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform two shows as part of its winter tour today at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp.

To accommodate the influx of traffic, the following provisions are in place:

• The intersection from Mundy Street to Highland Park Boulevard will be closed from about 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 to allow for traffic flow from the venue after the 3:30 p.m. performance. Mundy Street access from Highland Park Boulevard toward the Arena Hub Plaza may also be restricted.

• All traffic for the Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Twp. Commons, Arena Hub Plaza and surrounding areas is encouraged to use Exit 170B on Interstate 81 between 2 and 3:30 p.m. and 5 and 8:30 p.m.

• The arena parking lot opens at 1:30 p.m. for the 3:30 show, and 6:30 for the 8 p.m. General parking for the Mohegan Sun Arena parking lot is $10, cash only, when arriving at the lot.

Any customers with VIP parking or reserved parking are encouraged to use the left-hand lane when entering the parking lot from Highland Park Boulevard. All ticket holders are also encouraged to carpool.

— STAFF REPORT

DRUMS

Two wines produced as a collaboration by local wineries have won medals in national competitions, the businesses announced Thursday.

Collaboration Peach Methomel won a gold medal in the specialty semi-sweet mead category at the 2019 National Honey Board’s Mead Crafter’s Competition in St. Louis, as well as a bronze medal at the American Wine Society’s 2019 Commercial Wine Competition in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Collaboration Raspberry Methomel received a double gold medal at the American Wine Society event.

The wines were produced as a collaboration between Honey Hole Winery, 2 Honey Hole Road, Drums, and Space Time Mead & Cider Works, 419 S. Blakely St., Dunmore.

“We developed the recipe, and sourced the same ingredients together producing wines ranking among the best of our peers,” said Dan Schreffler, Space Time president and winemaker.

— JAMES HALPIN

HARRISBURG

All driver’s license and photo centers will be closed Nov. 28-29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the state Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services — including all forms, publications and driver training manuals — at www.dmv.pa.gov.

— STAFF REPORT

Nov. 22, 1929

Dunmore eatery and hotel raided

Sands Restaurant and Hotel, 702 Quincy Ave., was raided by federal Prohibition agents the evening of Nov. 21.

Agents reported that when they entered the building they discovered the owner, Richard Sands, and his wife using equipment to pump beer from the basement to the barroom.

In addition to arresting the couple, the agents confiscated 17 half-barrels of beer, a gallon of wine, a gallon of gin and a small amount of whiskey.

This was the fourth raid conducted by Prohibition agents in Dunmore that week.

Lecture at GAR Hall

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War conducted a lecture at the GAR Hall on Penn Avenue to mark the 66th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Professor John Seeley, principal of Scranton-Lackawanna Business College (now Lackawanna College), spoke to the large crowd that included several Civil War veterans on American ideals and patriotism.

“Will the United States endure everlasting or even for 500 years or more, the average life of a nation?” Seeley asked during his talk. “The answer depends upon the stability of her citizens and the purity of her ethical code.”

Shopping at Ross’

Fur-collared coats, $25.98; women’s silhouette dresses, $9.98; winter coats for boys, $5.98; winter coats for girls, $7.98; women’s and misses’ pumps, $2.98 a pair; children’s shoes, $1.98 a pair; and women’s hats, $1.98.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-

Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history.

Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or

570-348-9140.

PITTSTON TWP. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport travelers can soon use a mobile app to track and book flights and check parking availability.

The FlyAVP app — named partly after the airport’s three-letter federal designation — automatically will pull information from the airport’s upgraded website, FlyAVP.com.

“If we change any information (on the website), any alert messages or anything like that, it will automatically transfer to the app,” said Brock Siegel, chief executive officer for Omnitized, the app’s Wilkes-Barre-based developer.

Siegel spoke at an airport board meeting Thursday.

The airport hired Omnitized for $30,954 to develop the app and the upgraded website, which went online Sept. 23, airport spokesman Eric McKitish said. Siegel hopes to have the app available by next week. Google Play and Apple’s App Store will have it available for download, McKitish said. Siegel said he’s also building a webpage for downloading.

An app allows continuous communication with users, Siegel said.

“We can send messages that show up on home screens of the smart device if there is an urgent weather alert for travelers, congestion on the highways ... parking lot capacities, (flight) delays, cancellations, etc,” Siegel said. “We can also ... promote the newest programs that we have to offer.”

The website’s key new feature shows the availability of parking in the garage and three lots, along with prices for both. With the airport’s increased use, the garage sometimes fills up. That feature will make the app especially handy.

“We are really excited about that,” airport Director Carl Beardsley Jr. said.

Siegel said he could not find airports in other small- to medium-sized markets that offer a mobile app.

“I think this is going to put us in a whole different league when it comes to standing out,” he said.

The website and app will also communicate directly with the airport’s loyalty customers. As of Oct. 31, 538 people signed up for the loyalty program, about three-quarters from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, according to a chart presented at the meeting.

In other business, the board:

Extended Beardsley’s current three-year contract until Jan. 1, 2022, and declared Thursday as Carl Beardsley Day in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Both honor and reward Beardsley’s airport leadership and two years as president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, which represents airports across the state. Beardsley, who started as director in January 2015 and whose salary is $125,640, is due at least 2% raises in 2020 and 2021, according to his contract. The airport broke a passenger departure record in 2017, came close in 2016 and 2018, and is on pace to set another record this year.

“He’s done a fabulous job,” said Patrick O’Malley, an airport board member and Lackawanna County commissioner.

Unveiled a plaque honoring Peter Payavis, the superintendent who died in August and worked for the airport for 41 years. Payavis’ wife, Joyce, and their daughter, Melissa, pulled away a “Terrible Towel,” waved by Pittsburgh Steelers fans like Payavis, to unveil the plaque.

Melissa Payavis teared up remembering her father, who loved talking about his job.

If they visited the Tipsy Turtle, a nearby restaurant, a lap around the airport inevitably followed, she said.

“It was always evident that he loved to come to the airport every day,” Payavis said.

Most of the airport’s operations staff, who Payavis supervised, showed up for the unveiling.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter